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Persons seeking the position of Criminal Court Judge in the 15th Judicial District have until 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 21 to submit their applications, an official said.

A Notice of Judicial Selection is now available and it may be viewed at www.tncourts.gov.

Applicants for the position, left vacant by the death on Dec. 31, 2008 of Judge J.O. Bond, must be 30 years of age, be a licensed attorney and reside within the 15th Judicial District which includes Jackson, Macon, Smith, Trousdale and Wilson Counties, said Libby Sykes, director of the Administrative Office of the Courts.

If Wilson County road projects get funding under the proposed federal stimulus program, it will be because the county and the City of Lebanon are prepared to start work immediately, according to Lebanon Mayor Philip Craighead.

The funding, if it is approved, would be “use it or lose it” money that would have to be committed to projects as soon as it is received, according to the request for projects from, said Nashville Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)Executive Director Michael Skipper.

Craighead said he started attending the meetings of the MPO as soon as he was elected. And he also pointed out that Lebanon department heads had projects ready and waiting when he took office.

A man who once served as a Metro Nashville police officer, union organizer and was also a former police officer in Mt. Juliet pleaded guilty earlier this week to conspiracy and identity theft charges in federal court.

Calvin Hullett pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy by embezzling from a labor union and to identity theft, also.

Lebanon-based author Michael Lee West will greet fans and sign copies of her most recent book, “Mermaids in the Basement” during an event celebrating the release of the soft-cover edition set for Sunday, Jan. 11 at Sherlock’s Book Emporium & Curiosities in Lebanon.

The event will be from 1 until 4 p.m. at the bookstore located at 200 Maddox-Simpson Pkwy.

“She’s launching her new paperback book,” said Judy Norton, manager at Sherlock’s.

While the nation appears to be having serious economic issues, Wilson County may weather the storm better than most areas of the country.

Most local employers seem to be holding employment steady, according to G.C. Hixson, director of the Joint Economic & Community Development Board of Wilson County.

“There have been some reductions but not too bad,” Hixson said earlier this week. He added that TRW which has laid off some people is working with the JECDB to get a retraining grant of about $60,000 so their employees can be ready to come back to work when the economic woes smooth out.

“TRW plans on retraining and working with us to get through this,” Hixson said. “We want other local companies to know these kinds of grants are available to help them as well.”